MIMBRES, NM, Feb. 13, 2025 – The Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District is planning to conduct multiple prescribed fire projects, including the 250-acre Terry Springs project west of Forest Road 150 and several other units along New Mexico Highway 35 in the Sapillo Campground and Gattons Park area. While no closures will be in effect, smoke may impact campgrounds in the Sapillo and Lake Roberts areas, especially during early morning hours and when ignitions are actively occurring. Implementation of the prescribed burns may begin as early as Feb. 18, 2025, and could continue into the middle of March as conditions allow.
"Fuels specialists are continually monitoring fuel moisture to determine the appropriate timing to achieve the prescribed fires' objectives. Observations indicate that prolonged drought is causing earlier seasonal windows for burning these units. During non-drought periods, crews might have burned these units in April or early May, but circumstances indicate proper conditions for burning in February this year," said Wilderness District Ranger Brian Stultz. "The objective of these activities is to restore fire back to the landscape within fire-adapted ecosystems, while reducing hazardous fuels adjacent to private property."
In these "broadcast burn" projects, fire will be allowed to burn within a predetermined area that has been prepared to receive fire. Smoke will be visible from, and may impact the communities of Lake Roberts, Mimbres, and San Lorenzo. There will be smoke impacts to NM Highway 35, the Mimbres River and Sapillo Creek drainages, and the community of Lake Roberts. Smoke will be monitored to ensure that the New Mexico Environment Department's Air Quality Bureau's regulations are met. Smoke-sensitive individuals and those with respiratory or heart-disease should take precautionary measures. Air quality information and health protection measures are posted online by the New Mexico Department of Health at: https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html.
Intermittent delays should be expected on Highway 35, for which district fire management personnel will coordinate with the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Access to roads and dispersed camping may be limited in the project areas during implementation for firefighter and public safety. Residual heat will remain in the project areas for a period of days or weeks following the burns. Visitors should be aware of and take care to avoid safety hazards in recently burned areas, such as stump holes that may contain heat, rolling debris, and hot ash. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or
